Jackson Assessed

With what president did democracy finally rise up and take its true shape? If the opinion of the ordinary American was a puddle before Andrew Jackson came into office, then by the end of his term it was a full-fledged ocean. President Andrew Jackson was the seventh president of the United States, but the first elected who was truly an American. Born and raised by the common people, he truly was the epitome of democracy. He exemplified the people's needs, and always put them first. Like the standard American, he also was steadfast in his beliefs and forever stood by his friends. All in all, Jackson was a trustworthy symbol of democracy with typical human failings similar to that of the common American man.

President Jackson's veto of the re-charter of the Bank of the United States shows his sincere representation of the common people. To set the stage, the election of 1832 was just around the corner and Clay was scheming again to become president. Jackson, who was running for his second term, opposed him. Clay thought he had a sure fire plan to ensure his own presidency by forcing Jackson to either sign or veto a new bill to re-charter the US Bank. This would either cause the wealthy eastern landowners or the west to turn against him in the election. Jackson was against the bank from the start because he felt that it was a monopoly that only benefited wealthy landowners. He was correct in his opinion, because common Americans could not get loans from the US Bank nor use it for any purpose. Ordinary Americans would receive no benefit from the bank, but actually lose money from having to pay the tax on the re-charter and upkeep. Only about 200 Americans of the rich class held stock in it representing three fourths of the stocks holders. Foreigners held the other one forth. This was a disadvantage because if war was to break out between the US and countries that held our foreign stock, then one fourth of the United States' money would be gone. Jackson, being the man of the people that he was, saw the anguish of Americans in this situation and fought to make it cease. He therefore vetoed the re-charter of the Bank of the United States and extinguished the fire that burned in angry American hearts at its unjustness. In Jackson's speech to the senate addressing his motives for the veto of the re-charter, he used the three branches of government as examples of the different classes of people. Jackson boldly stated that "The Congress, the Executive and the Court must each for itself be guided by its own opinion of the Constitution" He then goes on to compare the Supreme Court to the select class of rich Americans who, he argues, should only be able to influence the Bank of the United States as much as any other man. In Jackson's eyes all Americans are equal and deserve to be treated the same. The wealthy bank leaders of the "supreme court" only comprised a small minority of the rest of the people, which were composed of the "congress and executive branches". Like the three branches of the government, which are all equal, and which check each other to make sure that one doesn't overpower another, so should the equality of the different classes of people be enforced. This comparison by Jackson states that the common people make up the majority and should be allowed to partake in the benefits from the bank. Since this was not happening and the common people were being left out, Jackson naturally vetoed the re-charter. After the veto, the crafty Clay thought he would have the election in the bag, but fate turned on him yet again. Jackson provided for the people by closing the bank, so in a way they made a mutual agreement and rewarded him with re-election. Jackson won the election of 1835 because the wealthy people who supported the bank only represented a small minority. The rest of the common people in agreement with Jackson formed a solid wall that Clay could not break through. Jackson's genuine support of the common people can also be seen through the controversy of the Indian Removal Act.

It can be granted that at times Jackson's democratic nature did not lead to the finest political policies. The Indian Removal Act illustrates one of his less than just courses of action. Under Jackson's term, the issue of Indian freedom was brought up in Georgia, with the Cherokee Native Americans. The Cherokee, one of the "civilized" Indian tribes, went to court against Georgia to gain their freedom as a nation. They made it to the Supreme Court where chief justice John Marshall declared that the Cherokee were a domestic dependent nation. This meant that they only had to obey regulations by the federal, not the state, government. The Cherokee won the case and the right to their land, but when the news came to Jackson, he refused to enforce the Supreme Courts decision. This was because of his will to do what the people wanted. The people, predominantly Georgians in this case, didn't want the Cherokee to become a domestic dependent nation. Jackson heard their cries and like a mother caring for a child, gave them what they wanted. Jackson then formed the Indian Removal Act, which forced all Indian tribes east of the Mississippi to move west of the river to lands that were considered much less valuable. The American people wanted the Indians to vacate their land because they were occupying valuable land that could be used to further American industry and plantations. Jackson, as always, complied with the needs of the people and issued the Indian Removal Act to please them. In the south especially, the people wanted the Indians to leave to make room for more cotton farms. Also gold had been discovered on some Indian lands that greedy southerners wanted. Jackson's actions were the result of what the majority of the people wanted, leaving the Indians as the minority subject to unfair treatment. The flaw in democracy can be seen here through the unprotected minority of Native Americans. However, in this situation, Jackson still symbolized this unfair democracy and supported the needs of the people, proving that he could always be counted on. In total, about 100,000 Native Americans were evicted off their land under Jackson's presidency. It was a terrible time for the Indians, which caused them much pain and suffering. They had to leave the land of their ancestors and venture out into a new and untamed world. Most of the Indian population died on the journey to the lands west of the Mississippi. Today only a few thousand remain. Their movement to the west was called the Trail of Tears and shows that Jackson would do anything for the people, even if it meant doing the wrong thing. Henry Clay himself said, " I have less confidence that I formerly entertained in the virtue and intelligence of the people and in the stability of our institution". In